1
: one that removes heads
especially
: a grain-harvesting machine that cuts off the grain heads and elevates them to a wagon
2
a
: a brick or stone laid in a wall with its end toward the face of the wall
b
: a beam fitted at one side of an opening to support free ends of floor joists, studs, or rafters
c
: a horizontal structural or finish piece over an opening : lintel
d
: a conduit (such as an exhaust pipe for a many-cylindered engine) into which a number of smaller conduits open
e
: a mounting plate through which electrical terminals pass from a sealed device (such as a transistor)
3
informal
: a fall or dive headfirst
took a header into the pool
4
: a shot or pass in soccer made by heading the ball
5
b
: information (such as a page number) printed or placed at the top of each page of a document compare footer sense 2
Examples of header in a Sentence
She tripped on the rock and took a header.
He scored with a header past the goalie.
Recent Examples on the Web
After both headers, fellow goalscorer Nick Woltemade grabbed Thiaw’s face and screamed.
—
Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 1 Dec. 2025
One minute later, while tempers were finally settling down, Allende scored his second goal of the night, a header off a cross from Alba.
—Miami Herald, 30 Nov. 2025
San Diego’s only playoff loss saw Portland tie the match off a clean header, bringing on a shootout.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Nov. 2025
He got tripped with Inter Miami on the attack about two minutes later, then took a direct kick from about 30 yards out — playing it into the box, but Silvetti's header was easily caught by NYCFC goalie Matt Freese.
—CBS News, 29 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for header
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Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 1 Dec. 2025
One minute later, while tempers were finally settling down, Allende scored his second goal of the night, a header off a cross from Alba.
—Miami Herald, 30 Nov. 2025
San Diego’s only playoff loss saw Portland tie the match off a clean header, bringing on a shootout.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Nov. 2025
He got tripped with Inter Miami on the attack about two minutes later, then took a direct kick from about 30 yards out — playing it into the box, but Silvetti's header was easily caught by NYCFC goalie Matt Freese.
—CBS News, 29 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for header
Cite this Entry
“Header.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/header. Accessed 5 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
header
noun
head·er
ˈhed-ər 
: a fall or dive headfirst
took a header downstairs
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